partha@mse.ogi.edu (R. Parthasarathy) (05/26/90)
ISLAMIC STRUCTURE _________________ I've heard from several friends that in an islamic society the rules of islam itself becomes the constitution and that religion and politics are one or the same. I am interested in knowing what type of political structure is advised in islam - democratic, monarchy etc.. because islam came into being at a time when monarchy was the type of rule almost universally. In a theocratic society like this, who forms the chief and what are the sub-ordinate positions of administration? Is there any absolutely islamic state like this where people who have made it to the top rank over many years are in power? What is the position of women in such a society in terms of running the routine affairs of administration? I know that Mrs. Bhutto is a top administrator in Pakistan, but that political structure is western. Also in almost all societies women have been given a secondary position and even to some extent as property of men. I am not in a position to say that polygamy is unreasonable to women because different societies have different marital customs. Those who are born and brought up in such societies will believe that their social laws are reasonable ( In south India maternal uncle can marry his niece, at least in certain communities, Ancient Egyptian kings married their sisters, there are communities where cousins marry and so on). What were the circumstances that led to the acceptance of polygamy in the islamic society during the prophet Mohammed's time? What types of trade and commerce laws exist in islam? I'd put communism as a type of religious order in which the state takes care of its citizens ( at least in the book) and market principles do not apply. I am not comparing islam with communism here. Arabs were great sea-faring traders before the western world took to it. Well, I have many more questions, but I'll keep that for another time. Since I haven't had any chance or time to know more about islam, I am not in a position to either agree or disagree with others on their criticisms. I've had many muslim friends, but never asked them these questions before. NB: I am not interested in hearing about islam from Martillo or the likes. This is serious quiry. Partha sarathy